The Philadelphia Barrage begin defense of their 2006 Major League Lacrosse championship on Saturday May 19 when they travel to Harvard Stadium to face the Boston Cannons. The Cannons opened their 2007 season last weekend with a 17-13 win at Washington. Faceoff will be at 7 PM.
All Time
The Barrage all time are 5-13 during regular season play vs. Boston though they have won both of their postseason meetings with the Cannons. On the road the Barrage are 3-7 during the regular season (1-4 at Cawley Stadium and 2-3 at Nickerson Field).
Last Year
The Barrage suffered both of their regular season losses at the hands of the Cannons. The first meeting was on June 24 in Boston where the Boston’s Chazz Woodson scored with 4:10 remaining to give the Cannons a 16-15 victory. Justin Smith scored four goals for the Barrage while Brian Dougherty made 15 saves. Five days later the two teams met at Villanova Stadium. In a game stopped early in the fourth quarter by lightning, the Cannons trounced the Barrage 16-5 scoring 14 of the game’s final 17 goals. Woodson and Matt Poskay each score three goals for Boston while Roy Colsey scored twice for Philadelphia. The Barrage would get revenge in the postseason, defeating the Cannons 17-12 in the MLL Semifinals in Los Angeles. Matt Striebel tallied five goals for the Barrage, who would move on to defeat the Denver Outlaws and win their second MLL title in three years.
Rankings
The Barrage has been picked first in the Inside Lacrosse MLL Power Rankings and have also been picked to finish first in the East by Lacrosse Magazine.
Indoor World Games
The ILF Indoor World Games are taking place this week in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Several members of the Barrage are on the Team USA 33 man roster. Those named include Ryan Boyle, Jed Prossner, Bobby Horsey, Matt Zash and Kyle Sweeney. According to the Philadelphia Wings website (wingslax.com), Sweeney will not be playing in the World Games. Sweeney, along with Horsey and Zash, played for the Barrage Saturday in their scrimmage against the MAB Philadelphia club.
Next Game
The Barrage will play their home opener on Saturday June 2 at USTC in Downingtown, PA against the Rochester Rattlers at 7 PM.
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